CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Billy Donovan saw the camera as he walked into the locker room, so he prepared himself.
Unfortunately, waterproof attire wasn’t provided.
Minutes after the Bulls’ impressive 131-117 victory over the Hornets on Sunday, Donovan was doused with water by his players, who were celebrating his Hall of Fame selection.
Donovan appreciated the gesture despite having to change clothes before the postgame news conference.
“I thought someone might say something like ‘congratulations,’ ” Donovan said with a laugh. “I didn’t know it was going to go to that level.”
It seems fitting because about a month ago, no one knew the Bulls (36-42) were going to play at this level — they’re 12-4 since March 6 and pushing the Hawks for the No. 8 spot in the Eastern Conference play-in seedings.
So, yes, the players wanted to celebrate Donovan’s Hall of Fame accomplishment but also what he has meant to them on and off the court.
“First off, there’s only a select few people in this world involved with this spot that get inducted into the Hall of Fame, so that’s a huge accomplishment, a huge blessing,” guard Coby White said. “I’ve been following Coach since I was a young Bull, watching him in Florida. That’s a big-time moment for a special person, special coach who has impacted every guy in this locker room, our lives off the court, so we wanted to celebrate him. He’s a hell of a coach and an even better person.”
He’s showcasing those coaching chops this season in possibly his most impressive display since joining the Bulls.
And it’s not all sunshine, either. Donovan has made sure of that, reminding the team of what’s ahead and how it should be approached.
There’s the game Tuesday in Cleveland against the first-place Cavaliers, who might be resting stars for the playoffs, a crucial home game against the Heat with play-in seedings on the line, then two seemingly just-roll-the-ball-out games at home against the Wizards and on the road against the 76ers in the regular-season finale.
It’s those supposed gimmies that had Donovan most concerned, starting Sunday in Charlotte.
“We just don’t have the luxury to go into any game thinking that based on records anything should happen at the end of 48 minutes,” Donovan said. “We’ve talked a lot over the last week or so: How do we as a group play to a standard that’s going to be sustainable?”
That didn’t happen late in the victory Friday against the Trail Blazers — six turnovers in the fourth quarter allowed Portland to get back in the game — and it wasn’t happening against the Hornets in the early going.
Back-to-back three-pointers by KJ Simpson and Seth Curry, then two free throws from Mark Williams and a seven-footer in the paint by Williams, and Donovan had seen enough.
Full timeout, a reset, some focus and a reminder. It worked. The Bulls outscored the Hornets 22-14 the rest of the quarter and never looked back.
White was a big reason. He had a game-high 37 points, including a 33-footer at the halftime horn, and Josh Giddey chipped in 23 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists.
Donovan, however, knows it only gets tougher this time of the year, especially with so much on the line. Maybe that’s why he appreciated what his players did. It was a nice little relief from the pressure cooker.
“They didn’t need to do that,” Donovan said.
“It really means a lot to me because they’re a part of it, too. I don’t know if I needed to be soaked like that, but certainly I appreciated the congratulations.”